As the world watches the Olympics Games in Vancouver, Canada

I want to share with you an idea and some thought provoking questions.

If you’ve ever watched or played any kind of sports like Curling, Football, Tennis, Lacrosse, Soccer, Badminton, Baseball or Hockey then you know the key to the game, just as it is in life, is to anticipate where the ball or the puck is going or will end up.

There are many plays in life that we make everyday.  Some work out the way we planned while others just do not work at all but the key to the game of life is just that. It’s a game to be played to the fullest, enjoyed with passion, appreciated for it’s beauty and, most importantly, to be grateful for the results we create.

The legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky said it best,

“A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”

In life, whether it’s business or a relationship, we need to anticipate how we wish to see it in the future while enjoying the present experience.

Take some time out to visualize and journal answers to these following questions:

What kind of a person will you be 1 to 5 years from now?

How healthy will you be in 1 to 5 years?

How Wealthy will you be 1 to 5 years?

What kind of a relationship will you be in 1 to 5 years from now?

What kind of house will you be living in 1 to 5 years from now?

What kind of vacations will you take 1 to 5 years from now?

Spend some time and create your present future.

FRED

Went to the movie “Invictus” tonight starring Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon and Directed by Clint Eastwood.

Not much of a rugby fan but went for the wisdom of Nelson Mandela, the first ever black South African President. He inspired a losing national rugby team to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which in turn united the whole country for one common goal in an apartheid torn country.

This poem “Invictus” inspired Nelson Mandela while he was imprisoned. The same poem inspired the captain of the Rugby Team.

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

I wish you the same inspiration I received from it and I also wish you a Merry Christmas and the Happiest New Year…. FRED

“The Nido Effect”

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending an exclusive symposium with the godfather of public speaking, Dr. Nido Qubein.  It was held at High Point University in North Carolina where, for the past five years, he has held the position of president.

There is no experience quite like the live experience.  I was in total awe as I walked through the hallways of HPU and observed the phenomena that Dr Nido Qubein and his staff have created. I have decided to call this “wow” experience “The Nido Effect.”

I must have said “Wow” more times in those two days than I have all year……Wow, this university looks amazing!  Wow, the staff are incredibly helpful and friendly! Wow, the students love this university!  Wow, Nido Qubein is a living genius!

HPU was founded in 1924.  Students come from 44 states and 55 countries.

Nido Qubein became president of HPU on January 2005.  At that time enrollment of new students was 412 and was on the decline.  In 2006 enrollment increased to 534 students.  In 2007 enrollment was 749.  In 2008 it went up to 883. In 2009 it was 1030 and enrollment for 2010 is expected to be around 1150-1200.

They have constructed 13 new buildings using the model of the “real world” environment similar to what students will move on to after leaving the university.  They’ve created a TV station, a radio station, a stock exchange, a boardroom, and a robotics dept.

The Wow effect is in everything they do and create.

They offer free snacks on the way to class to model ”giving and abundance.”

They offer free personalized christmas postcards to model ”connection of family and friends.”

They have a free ice cream truck on campus to model ”Joy.”

They offer free rentals of GPS and Amazon Kindle Reader.

They offer a free high-tech laundry service that will text your phone once your laundry is done.

They have a free arcade, a free movie theater, and free wireless throughout the campus.

The belief is that by offering things for free to the students this will help to alleviate financial worries and allow them to focus on higher education in a vibrant learning environment.

“People will always rise to the level of expectation of their environment and what is expected of their performance.” Nido Qubein

“Most people tend to shrink their dreams to match their incomes.” Nido Qubein

“If You’re Not Earning All You Want, Change the Way You’re Doing

Business.” Nido Qubein

For more about Nido Qubein check out www.Nidoqubein.com or www.highpoint.edu

Fred Shadian

I will be spending the next two days at an exclusive symposium with the godfather of public speaking Nido Qubein.  It is being held at High Point University, of which he happens to be the current president.

This is one of many high profile positions he is involved with.  For more, check www. Nidoqubein.com

While there, I’ll be tweeting about what I am learning and the wisdom of Nido Qubein.

Here are a few gems:

“Most people tend to shrink their dreams to match their incomes” – Nido Qubein

“If You’re Not Earning All You Want, Change the Way You’re Doing

Business” – Nido Qubein

Nice quotes….. How exactly do you do that?

Stay tuned for the update

FRED

“Take the first step toward your success journey”

So having a positive mental image and the physical energy to pursue your outcome is very important.

When in doubt, begin by breathing correctly, mentally rehearse your outcome, eat vibrant food, drink good water, go for a walk or do some exercise, and surround yourselves with like-minded people.

Take 10 minutes to watch this powerful video of Will Smith sharing his success wisdom, he is the best of the best positive action taker person in the world.

“Make Your Today The Best Day Ever, Everyday” Fred Shadian

There is a wonderful story that I used to enjoy when I was a kid called

“The Arabian Desert Bedouin”.

An elder desert Bedouin wished to visit a friend who lived in a far away land.  The Bedouin did not have a camel or a horse nor did he have a magic carpet.  He was a very poor man. One day he decided to begin his journey on foot. It took him weeks and weeks of traveling through the deserts, climbing the mountains, crossing the rivers and avoiding the bandits but at long last he reached his destination and arrived at his friend’s house. His friend was overjoyed to see him.

Welcome! Welcome!  How did you manage to get here by yourself?

The Bedouin said:  “I took the first step towards my journey and didn’t look back. I just kept moving and was looking forward to seeing you and your family.”

This is a wonderful story to remember when we are inspired to act yet hesitate to take the necessary action.

Thought-provoking quotes from Jimi Hendrix

(Born November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970)

Every time Jimi Hendrix plays song, i hear his guitar sing. Enjoy these wonderful thought-provoking quotes of wisdom.

• “All I’m gonna do is just go on and do what I feel.”

• “All I’m writing is just what I feel, that’s all. I just keep it almost naked. And probably the words are so bland.”

• “Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel.”

• “Even Castles made of sand, fall into the sea, eventually.”

• “Excuse me while I kiss the sky.”

• “I don’t have nothing to regret at all in the past, except that I might’ve unintentionally hurt somebody else or something.”

• “I try to use my music to move these people to act.”

• “I was trying to do too many things at the same time, which is my nature. But I was enjoying it, and I still do enjoy it.”

• “I’ve been imitated so well I’ve heard people copy my mistakes.”

• “If I’m free, it’s because I’m always running.”

• “Imagination is the key to my lyrics. The rest is painted with a little science fiction.”

• “It’s funny how most people love the dead, once you’re dead your made for life.”

• “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.”

• “The time I burned my guitar it was like a sacrifice. You sacrifice the things you love. I love my guitar.”

• “You have to give people something to dream on.”

• “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.”